“What the fuck am I gonna do with you?” he asked the female in his arms. When he’d thought about his future mate, he’d been so sure she’d be a feline of some sort. A leopard, or some kind of cat shifter. Fuck, he would’ve even been open to another shifter species, but a witch wasn’t in his plans. Sure, he’d fucked his fair share of humans, but he’d known none were his mates. Never in all his thirty-five years had he ever given his seed to a female, making sure to use a condom each and every time he had sex. He didn’t want to risk a pregnancy with anyone but his mate. Ridge was very strict in his sexual needs, and he made sure his crew followed his example. They didn’t need to have some humans running around with little halflings who didn’t know how to handle their offspring. Nope, no need to bring that kind of shitshow to their doorsteps.
“Ridge, you need some help out here, brother?” Glock asked, his large frame taking up the doorway.
The automatic denial was forced back. “Did you take care of the little fuck who was stalking her?”
Glock nodded. “Yeah, he’s a weasel who thought she was easy pickings. I made him aware of just how wrong he was in his way of thinking. Pretty sure he pissed himself before I watched him hightail it out of here.
Ridge couldn’t help but smile at the imagery. “Is the bachelorette party still going strong?”
Glock’s gaze swept to the female in Ridge’s arms but didn’t linger too long. “Yeah, they’re on the dance floor with Miko and a few other guys. She alright?”
Ridge shook his head. “She overextended her powers. I don’t know how long she’ll be out. Can you handle the ladies inside while I take her to my place?”
Not that he was giving Glock or any of the others a chance to do anything else as he turned toward the back of the lot and his pickup truck.
“You want me to have one of the Crew bring your bike back to your place after closing?” Glock had already turned around, the door to the club open.
Ridge snarled then quieted as his woman mumbled. “No. Lock it up in the garage here. Please.” He tacked the last word on belatedly.
“Damn, I bet that hurt. You got it. We’ll cover for you both. Don’t worry about these ladies and their questions. I have a feeling they’re not too worried about their lost friend.” His tone suggested he didn’t care for them and their actions much.
Ridge flipped Glock off before heading toward his truck. Sliding into his Ford with Noelle in his arms, he worked to ease her onto the bench seat, placing her head on his thigh. The truck rumbled to life as soon as he turned the key over. He drove them back to his place, the truck riding over the bumps with ease. He kept one hand on her, trying to control her from jostling too much as he drove home. The fact she continued to sleep, or be unconscious was a little alarming.
“Fuck, if I gotta call Zelda, I’ll not be a happy cat.” He looked back down at his little mate. It didn’t matter that she was a powerful witch, or that they’d just met, or that she might not have the first clue about mates. Hell, she could probably fry him with a click of her fingers. All that meant shit when it came to fate. They were probably laughing their fatey asses off.
The short drive out to his home seemed to take forever, when in reality it was less than ten minutes. He drove into the garage, the empty spots where his sister’s truck and bike used to sit making him wish she was there to help him with his little witch. He thought for sure she’d wake up once the silence closed around them inside, but she didn’t even stir as he slid out from under the wheel. Reaching back inside carefully, he gathered her small form against his chest, carrying her into his home.
Once he entered, lights came on automatically. He considered taking her up to his bedroom then thought better of it. Torrance’s old room was on the main level and had been empty since she’d left. His adopted sister was a neat freak, which he supposed was a trait they shared. Without thinking too hard, he veered down the hallway leading to the suite that was now empty. Once the earthy scent of Jasmine used to permeate the air, reminding him of Torrance. Her scent was all but gone.
Inside the room, he placed Noelle in the center of the bed, glancing down at the heels he’d admired earlier. “Shit,” he cursed.
He wasn’t willing to take the too-tight dress off no matter how much he thought she’d rest better. The shoes, those he could take off, even though he’d definitely had some fantasies about them wrapping around his waist. His hands went to work, undoing the tiny clasps at the back of her ankle. How women could get the damn things fastened so easily, he didn’t have a goddamn clue. It took him several tries to get the first one undone without saying fuck it and ripping it in half. The second one came undone a lot easier, once he realized there was a hook and eye thingy.
Since he knew she was breathing, and her heart was beating properly, Ridge prepared to sit in the chair next to the bed until she woke up. If she didn’t wake up by the time the sun came over the horizon, he’d be calling his local witches, or Torrance.
With nothing left to do after he covered her with a light throw, he went into the adjoining ensuite. The last thing he wanted his future mate to see and
